The Eighth Annual AFF Banjo Contest

The Ninth Annual AFF Banjo Contest

Watch here for details!

When: During the 2018 Folk Fest, dates & times TBA

Where: 2BAnnounced

Fee: None – It’s free!!

Eligibility: Anyone can enter, any age

Style: Any style of four or five string acoustic banjo; contestants each declare their style. Also includes BANJO JOKE category, because, let’s face it, banjo jokes are as traditional as banjo music and so they should get recognition as well!

Judging: All contestants will be judged by our panel of three Alaskan judges. Prizes: A winner will be chosen for each musical style, and prizes awarded. Prizes include cash (yes, cash!), concert tickets and gift certificates.

All contestants receive a Certificate of Participation.

Here’s how it works

Contestants need to be at (Stay tuned for 2019 details) to sign up to play, and to warm up. Contestants can enter one playing style category, which they identify: bluegrass, claw- hammer, or other.

The contest will start at (once upon a time) on the Amphitheater stage. Order of appearance will be determined before the start of the contest, by drawing numbers. The emcee will introduce each contestant and the song titles.

Each contestant will have up to five minutes to play and ideally should plan to perform two instrumental numbers within that five minutes total (eek, no singing, please!). This will be on the amphitheater stage.

RULE: Players can have one accompanist, to play basically a rhythm part, such as guitar or string bass (not another banjo, please!). The accompanist is there for musical support, but not to play solo or duet parts or in any way overshadow the banjo contestant.

Judging Criteria

We modeled our judging methods based on established performance criteria used in banjo contests all over the country.

For the Style categories

Execution (40 points): Timing, clarity, tone quality, being in tune, dynamics and finesse, degree of difficulty. (No, we are not going to execute any banjo players, even if tempted!)

Spirit (10 points): The music should have life and feeling; not be listless or dragging.

Overall impression (10 points): The general effect of the performance, including factors not otherwise mentioned above. Is the audience thrilled, or chilled?

In the Banjo Joke category, similar criteria will be applied. Additionally, all jokes must be G-rated, like the movies, with a one-minute time limit, and one-joke maximum. Jokes will be screened by a designated AFF staffer to ensure the G rating. Contestants can enter the joke category, regardless of whether they also enter to compete in a musical category.

NOTE: All contestants should stay together until the final results are tabulated, because there might be TIES in one or more categories that need to be resolved by a play- off. That means that those players would need to each play one more song for the judges to determine the winner.

Judges will confer to determine the winners. During that time, ALL contestants are requested to gather together on stage…we might have them all play a simple tune!

At the conclusion, winners will be announced, prizes awarded, and Certificates of Performance provided. Of course, all participants are also encouraged to become members of the Anchorage Folk Festival, and to consider volunteering too. Special thanks are due to Dick Sanchis (Local Burger Man) for helping us start this contest eight years ago, and donating prize money each year. He is a true Champion of Banjo Music. Thanks also to businesses providing gift certificates, to the judges, our wonderful emcee, and other dedicated volunteers helping run this contest.